"Gentleman Jack" by Northern Ballet.

A co-production with Finnish National Opera and Ballet.

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

"Gentleman Jack" is Northern Ballet’s new full-length ballet and is the story of the 19th century icon, Anne Lister. 

Yorkshirewoman Anne, described by some as the "first modern lesbian", lived, dressed and loved as she desired, not as 19th century society expected her to. Her diaries were discovered and decoded after her death, revealing a bold, passionate, independent, well-travelled businesswoman who defied societal norms and loved as fiercely as she lived.

Her story has inspired biographies, novels and a hit TV series, and this – Northern Ballet's first large-scale commission since 2021 and the first under Artistic Director Federico Bonelli - is the only production to bring it to life through the powerful medium of dance. 

I've always said that ballet is the most relaxing dance form to watch, no matter how dramatic the storyline, and that is all down to the choreography and the dancers who keep you spellbound and completely hypnotised, all the while story telling to the highest degree.

I've seen a few ballets over the years now, but this has to be one of the most erotic, sexy pieces of dance I've ever seen, and al the while portraying such tenderness and emotion.

I'm not going to say how every dancer is of the highest quality because that goes without saying. Companies like Northern Ballet and Matthew Bourne's New Directions only employ the best dancers, so straight away you know that you'll be seeing the best of the best when it comes to dance, performance and story telling. And that goes for the ensemble as well as the featured dancers.

Nida Aydınoğlu is Anne Lister, ballet's new heroine. Lister's well documented journals come to life on stage with the writings being shown within the four cabinets of light and video.

Julie Nunès is Ann Walker, Lister's long term partner who eventually becomes her wife.

Sarah Chun plays the role of Marianna Lawton, the friend and lover of Lister, who goes on to break her heart when Marianna marries Charles Lawton, played by Jonathan Hanks.

Miguel Teixeira plays Christopher Rawson and his wife is played by Alessandra Bramante.

Aunt (Anne Lister) is played by Saeka Shirai and Uncle (James Lister) is played by Harry Skoupas. Heather Lehan is Sister (Marion Lister).

The Businessmen, Upper Class Men, Words, Miners and Servants are played by Jackson Dwyer, Bruno Serraclara, Andrew Tomlinson, Yu Wakizuka, Noah Benzie-Drayton, Harris Beattie, Stefano Veralta, Archie Sherman, Jun Ishii and Albert González Orts.

The Parisienne Women, Upper Class Women, Words, Miners and Servants are played by Helen Bogatch, Sena Kitano, Kirica Takahashi, Kaho Masumoto, Eliza Hickey, Harriet Marden, Gemma Coutts, Rachael Gillespie, Alessia Petrosino and Alessandra Bramante.

These are the dancers for Wednesday 13^th May; there are different casts for each day of the Nottingham run.

Choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa with Dance Artist and singer/songwriter Jemima Brown acting as Choreography Consultant.

Composer is Peter Salem. Conducted by Daniel Parkinson, the music is absolutely gorgeous, and several times I found my eyes closing to focus on the music, letting the lush sounds of this beautiful sounding orchestra wash over me, and then realising that I was missing the equally hypnotising dancing on stage. I really hope that Peter Salem's music that goes with the ballet becomes available in some form or another.

Dramaturg is thanks to Clare Croft.

Lighting and Set Designer is Christopher Ash. He has used a form of set design that I don't think that I have seen before where the cinematic video is contained in four cabinets that are wheeled on and off stage and perfectly shows motion, time and travel. There's also like a small travelator that Jack uses to indicate the road he is travelling, and that combined with the moving scenic cabinets really create a wonderful effect.

The scenes within the boardroom with Jack and Rawson and effectively played out for power in an almost competitive battle for superiority

Creative Consultant is Sally Wainwright.

Costume Designer is Louise Flanagan, who has drawn on inspiration from the 1830s as well as lesbian and queer dress in modern fashion to create a contemporary feel to the period dress. As soon as the curtain goes up, you're met with the most wonderfully glamorous sight, and those costumes continue to give the wow factor from start to finish.

Get your tickets to see this intoxicating new ballet while you can!

"Gentleman Jack" is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 16 May.